Method for manufacturing high density non-volatile magnetic memory

ABSTRACT

Methods of fabricating MTJ arrays using two orthogonal line patterning steps are described. Embodiments are described that use a self-aligned double patterning method for one or both orthogonal line patterning steps to achieve dense arrays of MTJs with feature dimensions one half of the minimum photo lithography feature size (F). In one set of embodiments, the materials and thicknesses of the stack of layers that provide the masking function are selected so that after the initial set of mask pads have been patterned, a sequence of etching steps progressively transfers the mask pad shape through the multiple mask layer and down through all of the MTJ cell layers to the form the complete MTJ pillars. In another set of embodiments, the MTJ/BE stack is patterned into parallel lines before the top electrode layer is deposited.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/040,827 filed Feb. 29, 2008 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,535,952 on Sep. 17, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to non-volatile magnetic random access memory and particularly to methods of manufacturing memory cells for non-volatile magnetic random access memory (MRAM).

BACKGROUND

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a selected stage of the prior art fabrication process of a non-volatile MRAM array on a wafer. The stack of thin film layers are deposited on a substrate containing CMOS circuitry (not shown) and landing pads for electrical connections to the bottom electrode (BE) for the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) elements. A typical magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) cell consists of a bottom electrode (BE) and seed layers, followed by an anti-ferromagnetic pinning layer (AFM). The composition of AFM layer is typically alloys of IrMn or PtMn. A fixed magnetic layer is deposited on top of the AFM layer. The fixed magnetic layer typically has the structure of a synthetic anti-ferromagnetic layer with two ferromagnetic layers made from compounds of Co and Fe, separated by a very thin Ru layer to induce anti-ferromagnetic coupling between the two ferromagnetic sub layers. A tunnel barrier is deposited on top of the fixed layer. The composition of tunnel barrier layer is preferably MgO. The tunnel barrier separated the fixed layer from a free magnetic layer preferably made of magnetic materials of ferromagnetic elements Co, Fe, and Ni. Free layer may also contain up to 20 atomic % of B. The AFM layer, fixed magnetic layer, tunnel barrier layer, and free magnetic layer make up the important parts of the MTJ.

The fixed magnetic layer has a magnetic moment direction pinned into a single direction through exchange coupling to the adjacent AFM layer. The magnetic moment direction of the free magnetic layer can be changed between the parallel and anti-parallel direction with respect to the fixed magnetic layer. The tunnel barrier layer allows electrons to tunnel between the fixed magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer. When the free magnetic layer's magnetic moment is parallel with the fixed layer's magnetic moment, the resistance to electron flow through tunnel barrier layer is lower; and when the free layer's magnetic moment is anti-parallel with the fixed layer's magnetic moment, the resistance to electron flow through tunnel barrier layer is higher. This difference in resistance is also known as “tunnel magneto-resistance” or TMR.

On top of the MTJ/bottom electrode stack, a top electrode and dielectric layers are deposited. The dielectric layer functions as an etch mask during the patterning of the MTJ element and bottom electrode. Typically, the dielectric etch mask has the shape of a post or pillar. In conventional lithography, the control of the critical dimensions of the post shape is rather limited and hence strongly affects the size control of the final MTJ element. To alleviate this critical dimension control in two dimensions, a fabrication process involving two photolithography steps and two etch steps have been previously been proposed (U.S. Pat. No. 7,863,060 to Belen, et al. (Jan. 4, 2011)). However, the thickness of the dielectric layer in the prior art limits the resolution of the patterning process and introduces a large topography and gap to be filled prior to any subsequent patterning step. The current invention addresses this deficiency by using a very thin dielectric mask, as well as provide methods to reduce the size of the MTJ element and to self-align the bitlines to the MTJ elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention include methods for manufacturing of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) array on a wafer using double patterning to achieve dense arrays of MTJs exceeding the limit set by the minimum feature size (F) in every technology node. Two orthogonal line patterning steps achieve an array of MTJs located where the orthogonal lines overlap. In addition, a self-aligned double patterning method embodiment allows for a half pitch capability for the packing of the MTJs in the array. The self-aligned double patterning approach also allows for reducing one dimension of the MTJ to create MTJ with aspect ratio larger than one, while the largest dimension of the MTJ is limited by the feature size F and the size is smaller than a traditionally patterned MTJ with an aspect ratio larger than one, where the smallest dimension of the MTJ is limited by the feature size F. Since program current is proportional to area of barrier layer, it helps to reduce program current without any other layout change.

In one set of embodiments, which include the first detailed embodiment described below, a set of mask pads that self-define the location of the MTJ pillars are formed over bulk layers for the MTJ cells including the top electrode. The materials and thicknesses of the stack of layers that provide the masking function are selected so that after the initial set of mask pads have been patterned, a sequence of etching steps progressively transfers the mask pad shape through the layers in multiple mask layer and down through all of the MTJ cell layers to the form the complete MTJ pillars. The sequence of etching steps can progressively consume the upper layer in the mask pads but the selected sequence of layers provides that underlying layers with different etching resistant properties provide the mask for a particular phase. The initial mask pads are used in a sequence of etching steps that each form a subsequent mask pad from the multiple layers of material deposited above the top electrode and ultimately etch down to the substrate to form the MTJ pillars including the top electrode. An embodiment of set of layers for the sequence of mask pads includes a first (lower) dielectric layer, a thin metal layer, and a second (upper) dielectric layer. A planarizing BARC layer is also deposited above the upper dielectric layer as part of the patterning process.

The shape and location of the initial mask pads in the first group of embodiments are determined by first etching parallel lines in the upper dielectric layer and then forming pads of dielectric material by etching using a second line mask with parallel lines orthogonal to the first lines. In these embodiments the initial mask pads are the upper dielectric material disposed on the metal layer. The next etching step uses the initial mask pads as a mask to etch through the metal layer with the result being that a bilayer mask pad has been formed on the lower dielectric layer. The following etching step uses the bilayer mask pad to etched down through the lower dielectric layer. The upper dielectric pad layer is consumed in the process, so that the mask pads now have the metal layer as the upper layer over the lower dielectric layer. Next the top electrode layer is etched. The top metal layer in the pads is preferably a different metal than the top electrode to facilitate selective etching, but the lower dielectric pad layer function as a hard mask. Appropriate etching steps are then used to etch through the MTJ and bottom electrode layers to complete the formation of the MTJ cell pillars. Any remaining lower dielectric mask pad material can be removed by etching, then a conventional process can be employed to form the bitline interconnection for each MTJ cell.

The shape and size of the mask pads is determined by the overlapping area of two sets of separately patterned sets of mask lines. If each set of mask lines has a width equal to the feature size F then the pads will be have an aspect ratio of one. The theoretical square shape will become rounded by increased etching of the edges. In embodiments of the invention either or both sets of mask lines can be formed using the self-aligned double patterning (SDP) method described herein that allows for reduction of the mask line width and pitch to one half F. The embodiments using the SDP method reduce one or both in-plane dimensions of the MTJ pillar and may provide an important reduction in the current required to switch the free layer state without any other layout change other than the MTJ feature size. Reducing the program current required to switch the free layer state is one of the most serious design issues.

The self-aligned double patterning (SDP) method is used in various embodiments of the invention. For example, in the second detailed embodiment of the invention described below, the first set of parallel mask lines are formed using the SDP method and the second set of orthogonal mask lines can then be formed as described in the first embodiment. The SDP method forms a set sacrificial mask lines using conventional photo lithography, which are limited to feature size F. The sacrificial mask lines can be photoresist or material deposited using photoresist masks. After the sacrificial mask lines have been fabricated, a layer spacer material, which is a selected as a material that can survive etching of the sacrificial mask line material in subsequent processing, is deposited over the sacrificial mask lines and then partially etched to leave only wedge-shaped lines of spacer material at the sides of sacrificial mask lines. The sacrificial mask line material is removed to leave two lines of wedge-shaped spacer material for each sacrificial mask line. The lines of wedge-shaped spacer material spacer are then used as a mask to etch lines into the underlying layer in the stack of mask layers. In this way the first set of lines are formed with a density that is twice that of the photoresist lines and, therefore, exceed the limit set by the minimum feature size (F) of the photo lithography technology.

In another set of embodiments, which include the fourth, fifth and sixth detailed embodiment described below, a hard mask layer is deposited on the MTJ/BE stack before the set of three mask layers as described above is deposited. The top electrode layer is not included at this stage. The first set of mask lines is then formed as described above for the first embodiment and used as a mask to etch matching lines in the first (lower) dielectric layer. In turn these dielectric lines are used to etch matching lines in the hard mask layer. The hard mask lines are then used to etch lines in the MTJ/BE stack down to the substrate. In order to fill the spaces between the MTJ/BE lines, the MTJ/BE lines with the remaining hard mask layer in this embodiment are first covered with a thin conformal layer of SiN followed by a thicker SiO2 which is planarized. The top surfaces of the hard mask on the MTJ/BE lines are then exposed by planarization processes. A top electrode layer is then deposited over the wafer. The second set of orthogonal lines are then formed by a process that starts by depositing dielectric, metal, and BARC layers. A photoresist line mask is patterned and lines are etched from the dielectric layer disposed on the top electrode layer. Etching through the top electrode layer forms top electrode lines extending orthogonally to the MTJ/BE lines. The material that is not covered by the top electrode layer is removed to form of the MTJ/BE pillars. A conventional process can be resumed at this stage. Alternatives in this set of embodiments use the SDP method to form first and/or the set of mask lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a thin film layer stack for a prior art MRAM cell.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a selected stage of a prior art fabrication process of an MRAM array on a wafer.

FIGS. 3-9 illustrate selected stages of a fabrication method according to a first embodiment the invention, showing cross sectional views of the thin films perpendicular to the substrate surface.

FIGS. 10 a-f illustrate cross sectional views of the thin films perpendicular to the substrate surface at selected stages of a fabrication method according to an embodiment the invention using the self-aligned double patterning (SDP) method for the first set of mask lines.

FIGS. 11-23 e show cross sectional views of the thin films perpendicular to the substrate surface illustrate selected stages of a fabrication method according to an embodiment the invention in which the first set of mask lines are used to patterned the MTJ/BE lines before the top electrode layer is deposited.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration of the specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that the figures discussed herein are not drawn to scale and thicknesses of lines are not indicative of actual sizes. Unless otherwise noted the figures show cross sectional views of the thin films perpendicular to the substrate surface. Although only a small number of cells are shown in the figures, the method may used for the simultaneous fabrication of many cells on a wafer according to standard techniques.

Embodiments of the present invention include methods for manufacturing of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) array on a wafer. In each of the embodiments a two-part patterning is performed in two orthogonal line patterning steps to achieve an array of square or rectangular MTJs. In addition, in various alternatives a self-aligned double patterning (SDP) method allows for a half pitch (F/2) capability in either or both in-plane dimensions for the packing of the MTJs in the array.

In a first set of embodiment that will be described in detail, the bulk layers for the MTJ cells including the top electrode layer are deposited. The magnetic moments of the fixed layers of the present invention are then set using a magnetic annealing process whereby the magnetic films are exposed to a magnetic field of 4-10 kOe, applied in-plane of the wafer surface, at a temperature usually over 350° C. In one embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic field of 10 kOe is applied, in-plane of the wafer surface, at 360° C. for 2 hours. In other embodiments of the present invention the field exposure time may be shorter, for as short as a few minutes, or longer. The annealing process causes re-crystallization of the free and fixed layers adjacent to the MgO tunnel barrier layer. This step is critical, as it ensures a high TMR, and impacts the read-speed of the final memory. Alternatively, the magnetic annealing step can also be performed after the whole back-end process has been completed.

Next, the set of mask layers, e.g. dielectric/metal/dielectric are deposited. The first line mask is used to first pattern lines in the upper dielectric, then the second orthogonal line mask is used to form pads of upper dielectric that will then be used to initiate the sequence of etching steps that ultimately transfer the pad shape down through all of the layers for the MTJ cell.

Referring to FIG. 3, on top of the MTJ and bottom electrode 11, a top electrode 12 and dielectric layers 13 are deposited. The lower dielectric layer 13 functions as an etch mask during the patterning of the MTJ element and bottom electrode 11. In turn, to pattern the dielectric layer 13, a thin metal layer 14 and a thin layer of (upper) dielectric material 15 are deposited. In a preferred embodiment described below the dielectric layers 13 and 15 are made of SiO2 or other oxide, or SiN or other nitride. In a preferred embodiment described below the thin metal layer 14 is made of Cu, or other material with good etch chemistry selectivity compared the oxide or nitride layer 13 and 15.

Referring now to FIG. 3, after the bulk layers for the MRAM and mask layers have been deposited an bottom anti-reflection coating (BARC) layer 16 is coated on top of the thin upper dielectric layer 15. Next, in this embodiment a photoresist mask 17 is patterned into lines extending over multiple cells on the wafer using conventional lithography. The line-patterned photoresist layer 17 is used as an etch mask for etching out a corresponding line pattern into the thin upper dielectric layer 15 to produce dielectric lines 15 b as shown in FIG. 4. The etch process uses the thin metal layer 14 as an etch stop. The dielectric lines 15 b now form a pattern mask on top of a thin metal layer 14. For example, this etching process may use CF₄, Cl₂, BCl₃ plasma or any combination of these with other gases such as Ar, H₂ or O₂, which has a low etch rate of the metal layer 14 compared to the dielectric layer 15. Next, any remaining photoresist layer 17 and BARC layer 16 are stripped away after the etching is complete.

FIG. 5 illustrates a subsequent selected stage of the process after a planarizing BARC layer 18 is deposited over the thin dielectric lines 15 b shown in FIG. 4. This planarizing is possible since the dielectric lines 15 b are much thinner than the thickness of the BARC layer 18. For example, typical thickness of thin dielectric lines 15 b is less than 50 nm. Next, a second photoresist line mask 19 has been patterned on the BARC layer 18 in an orthogonal direction to the thin dielectric lines 15 b previously formed. The structures on the wafer as shown in FIG. 5 will now be subjected to a series of etching steps that selectively remove materials to ultimately produce square or rectangular pillars that include a top electrode over the MTJ/BE pads.

FIG. 6 illustrates a subsequent selected stage of the process after the structure shown in FIG. 5 has been etched down through the dielectric lines 15 b to form thin dielectric square or rectangular-shaped pads 15 c disposed on the surface of metal layer 14. These dielectric pads 15 c will be used as an etch mask in subsequent steps and define the shape and location of the MTJ pillars. The selected etching process removes the unmasked dielectric material and stops at the metal layer 14. The photoresist lines 19 and BARC layer 18 are stripped away after the etching is complete. For example, this etching process may use CF₄, Cl₂, BCl₃ plasma or any combination of these with other gases such as Ar, H₂ or O₂, which has a low etch rate of the metal layer 14 compared to the dielectric layer 15 b.

FIG. 7 illustrates a subsequent selected stage of the process after the structure shown in FIG. 6 has been etched down through the metal layer 14. For example, this etching process may use methanol plasma which has a high etch rate of the metal layer 14 compared to the dielectric layer 15 c. The selected etching process for this phase removes the exposed metal in layer 14 while leaving the dielectric material in pads 15 c. The dielectric pads 15 c have been used as an etch mask to transfer the square or rectangular pad shape into metal pads 14 b which are the masked areas of metal layer 14. The result at this stage is that dielectric layer 13 has an array of square or rectangular pads (in a top view) formed on its surface with each pad being formed from an upper layer 15 c of dielectric material and a lower layer 14 b of metal.

FIG. 8 illustrates a subsequent selected stage of the process after the structure shown in FIG. 7 has been etched down through the lower dielectric layer 13 and top electrode layer 12 using two separate etch steps. In the first of these etch steps, the upper dielectric pads 15 c have been consumed in the process of etching the lower dielectric layer 13. The metal pads 14 c are what remains of the initial pads 14 b which act as an etch mask to form lower dielectric hard mask pads 13 b from the bulk dielectric layer 13. In the second etching step, the hard mask pads 13 b act as the mask to etch out the top electrode layer 12. As noted the preferred material is copper (Cu) for the metal pads 14 c. The metal for the top electrode should not be not Cu but should be Ta or similar metal. This etching step might consume the thin metal pads 14 c leaving bilayer pillar mask pads 12 b, 13 b on top of the MTJ/bottom electrode layer stack 11. For example, the etching process to remove unmasked top electrode material may use methanol plasma which has a high etch rate of the top electrode layer material compared to the lower dielectric pads 13 b.

Referring now to FIG. 9, mask pads 13 b have been used to etch down through the MTJ/BE layer stack 11 to form MTJ/BE pillars 11 b with top electrode pads 12 b on top. Any remaining dielectric pad 13 b has been stripped off using appropriate etch chemistry. Although FIG. 9 shows square shaped pillars, the actual shape will be more rounded to have a cylindrical shape with circular or elliptical cross section due to inherent increased etching of the edges. From this stage once the MTJ/BE pillars 11 b have been patterned, a conventional bitline interconnection process can be resumed. Typically the array of MTJ/BE elements are encapsulated in dielectric material (not shown) and followed by means to make bitline electrical contact to the top electrode 12 b and providing electrical wiring to the CMOS circuitry in the substrate 10.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, which is an alternative embodiment related to the first embodiment, is illustrated in FIGS. 10 a-f. This embodiment uses the self-aligned double patterning (SDP) method to create the first set of line patterns as described above. The first set of lines of dielectric material are created using a mask formed from spacer material that is initially deposited at the sides of a line mask made of a sacrificial layer 26. The sacrificial layer 26 can be made of photoresist, but can also be etched out of a sacrificial layer material using conventional photo lithography. In this way the first set of lines are formed with a density that is twice that of the photoresist lines. As shown in FIG. 10 a, this embodiment begins with a stack of layers substrate 20, MTJ/BE 21, top electrode 22, first (lower) dielectric 23, thin metal 24, and second (lower) dielectric 25, which are similar to those described in the first embodiment. A sacrificial line mask 26 (shown in cross section) has been patterned using standard photo lithography and deposition. In this SDP embodiment the line width and spacing are both first patterned as equal to F followed by a trimming of the line width to one-half F (i.e. F/2). In FIG. 10 b, a spacer material 27 has been conformally deposited on top of the sacrificial lines 26 to a thickness of F/2. The spacer material is selected to be selectively etchable from the material in the sacrificial lines 26. In FIG. 10 c, a part of the spacer material 27 between the sacrificial lines 26 has been etched away leaving a roughly triangular or wedge-shaped spacer line 27 b abutting each side of the sacrificial lines 26. The wedge-shaped spacer line 27 b is approximately F/2 wide at the bottom.

Next in FIG. 10 d, the sacrificial lines 26 are removed through O₂-ashing or other means, resulting in a line pattern of spacer material 27 b of width F/2 at a spacing of F/2. As shown in FIG. 10 e, the structure shown in FIG. 10 d is etched down through the thin second (upper) dielectric layer 25 is to form dielectric lines 25 b with a width F/2 at a spacing of F/2.

Finally, in FIG. 10 f the remaining spacer wedge line material 27 b is removed, leaving dielectric pattern mask lines 25 b with double the density compared to the initial sacrificial line pattern 26.

In this second embodiment of the present invention, the self-aligned double patterning method shown in FIGS. 10 a-f is used to create a dense dielectric line pattern 25 b as shown in FIG. 10 f that is similar to the dielectric line pattern 15 b shown in FIG. 4 and, therefore, the portion method of the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5-9 for creating the second set of orthogonal lines can be executed as described above.

Alternatively, in a third embodiment of the present invention the self-aligned double patterning (SDP) method can be used to form the second set of parallel mask lines which can then be used create the dielectric square or rectangular shape mask pad, similar to the dielectric square or rectangular shape pad 15 c as shown in FIG. 6. By using the SDP method for both orthogonal set of mask lines both dimensions can be width F/2. Similar steps as depicted in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 can follow to achieve a very dense array of MTJ pillars similar to those shown in FIG. 9.

In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a modified stack structure and process flow from the previous embodiments is used. The first set of mask lines is used to pattern the MTJ/BE layers into lines before the top electrode layer is deposited. Referring now to FIG. 11, the film stack structure of a non-volatile magnetic memory has been deposited on a substrate 30 containing CMOS circuitry (not shown) and means for electrical connections to the MTJ elements that will be patterned. The stack structure consists of the MTJ layer group which in turn consists of the magnetic layers and tunnel barrier as described above. On top of the MTJ and bottom electrode stack (MTJ/BE) 31, a hard mask layer 32 and then first (lower) dielectric layer 33 is deposited. In a preferred embodiment, the hard mask layer 32 is made out of tantalum (Ta).

On top of the dielectric layer 33, a thin metal layer and a thin dielectric layer were deposited and then patterned as described above for the first embodiment to form bilayer lines with an upper dielectric layer 35 b and a lower metal layer 34 b. The patterning process includes a BARC layer (not shown) coated on top of the thin upper dielectric layer as described in earlier embodiments. Next, a photoresist layer is patterned into lines (not shown) using conventional lithography. The line patterned photoresist layer is then used as an etch mask for etching a line pattern into the thin upper dielectric layer. The etch process uses the thin metal layer as an etch stop. The process produces bilayer lines having a lower metal layer 34 b and an upper dielectric layer 35 b. In a preferred embodiment, the thin metal layer 34 b is made out of Cu.

The structure shown in FIG. 11 is etched down through dielectric layer 33 using bilayer lines 34 b, 35 b as a mask to form the dielectric lines 33 b as shown in FIG. 12. The structure shown in FIG. 12 is etched down through hard mask layer 32 to form the hard mask lines 32 b shown in FIG. 13. For example, this etching process may use CF₄, Cl₂, BCl₃ plasma or any combination of these with other gases such as Ar, H₂ or O₂, which has a high etch rate of the hard mask layer 32 compared to the dielectric layer 33 b.

The structure shown in FIG. 13 is etched down through MTJ/BE layer stack 31 using the hard mask line pattern 32 b to form the hard mask/MTJ/BE lines 51 which include the remaining hard mask 32 c and MTJ/bottom electrode lines 31 b shown in FIG. 14 which shows a cross section perpendicular to the substrate and perpendicular to the long axis of the lines. For example, this etching process may use methanol plasma which has a low etch rate of the hard mask layer 32 b compared to the MTJ/BE layers 31.

FIG. 15 illustrates a subsequent stage in the process after the stage shown in FIG. 14, after the MTJ/bottom electrode lines 31 b with the remaining hard mask layer 32 c on top have been encapsulated by first depositing a thin, conformal SiN layer 38 over the wafer to protect the exposed sidewall of the MTJ structure. Over the thin conformal SiN layer 38, a thicker SiO₂ layer 39 has been deposited to fill in the gaps between the MTJ/bottom electrode lines 31 b and allow planarization.

As shown in FIG. 16, the SiO₂ layer 39 is planarized using oxide CMP with the SiN layer 38 functioning as a stop layer for the CMP process. The result is SiO₂ fill 39 b between the SiN encapsulation. The exposed surface of the wafer has alternating lines of SiO₂ fill 39 b and SiN encapsulation 38.

Referring now to FIG. 17, the SiN layer 38 above the hard mask lines 32 c has been removed to expose the top of the hard mask lines 32 c. For example, the SiN layer 38 is removed by blanket etching using an appropriate gas chemistry. In the same process step, some of the SiO₂ layer 39 b is also removed. The exposed surface of the wafer now has alternating lines of SiO₂ fill 39 b, SiN encapsulation 38 and hard mask 32 c. As shown in FIG. 18, a top electrode layer 40 has been deposited on top of the hard mask/MTJ/BE lines 32 c, 31 b and remaining SiO₂ fill layer 39 b and SiN encapsulation layer 38 b.

A subsequent stage of the process is illustrated in FIG. 19. For simplicity the hard mask/MTJ/BE lines 51 are shown as a unit. A dielectric layer 41, a thin metal layer 42 and a BARC layer 43 have been deposited over the top electrode layer 40. In a preferred embodiment, the thin metal layer 42 is made of Cu. A photoresist mask 44 has been patterned into lines arranged orthogonally to the direction of the hard mask/MTJ/BE lines 51.

Referring now to FIG. 20, the dielectric lines 41 b have been formed by etching using photoresist line mask 44 in FIG. 19. The dielectric lines 41 b are then used to form the top electrode lines 40 b by another etching process with the result as shown in FIGS. 21 a and 21 b. For example, this etching process may use CF₄, Cl₂, BCl₃ plasma or any combination of these with other gases such as Ar, H₂ or O₂, which has a high etch rate of the top electrode layer material compared to the dielectric layer 41 b. FIG. 21 a is an isometric section view that shows the top electrode lines 40 b disposed on the wafer surface. FIG. 21 b is a plan view looking down between two of the top electrode lines 40 b showing that the exposed surface between the top electrode lines 40 b includes tops of the hard mask 32 c (which is above MTJ/BE 31 b), the SiO₂ fill 39 b and SiN encapsulation 38 b.

From the stage shown in FIGS. 21 a and 21 b, the remaining SiO₂ fill 39 b and SiN encapsulation 38 b not covered by the top electrode lines 40 b is removed. The result is illustrated in FIGS. 22 a-c. FIG. 22 a is a top plan view that shows that the substrate 30 is now exposed where the selected SiO₂ fill 39 b and SiN encapsulation 38 b have been removed. FIG. 22 b shows the cross section view through A-A (labeled in FIG. 22 a) with hard mask/MTJ/BE lines 51 disposed on the substrate 30. FIG. 22 c shows the cross section view through B-B with top electrode lines 40 b disposed SiO₂ fill 39 b and SiN encapsulation 38 b.

A subsequent stage of the process is illustrated in FIGS. 23 a-e. The remaining areas of hard mask/MTJ/BE lines not covered by the top electrode line 40 b are removed to form hard mask/MTJ/BE pillars 51 p underneath the top electrode line 40 b as illustrated isometric section view in FIG. 23 e. FIG. 23 a is a top plan view that shows that the surface of substrate 30 is now exposed where the selected hard mask/MTJ/BE material has been removed. FIG. 23 b shows the cross section view through A-A (labeled in FIG. 23 a) which now contains only the substrate 30, which as previously indicated can contain previously patterned circuitry. FIG. 23 c shows the cross section view through B-B which has not been changed from that shown in FIG. 22 c. FIG. 23 d shows the cross section view through C-C showing hard mask/MTJ/BE pillars 51 p underneath the top electrode line 40 b.

After the hard mask/MTJ/BE element 51 p is patterned as described, a conventional process can be resumed. Typically the array of MTJ/BE elements are encapsulated in dielectric material (not shown) and followed by the bitline interconnection process to make electrical contact to the top electrode and providing electrical wiring to the CMOS circuitry in the substrate. This embodiment of the invention thus allows for the hard mask/MTJ/BE pillars 51 p to become self-aligned to the top electrode line 40 b.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention is an alternative of the fourth embodiment in which the self-aligned double patterning (SDP) method as illustrated in FIGS. 10 a-f and described above can be used to create the dielectric line patterns shown in FIG. 4 but with a width F/2 at a spacing of F/2, for example. The subsequent process steps in this embodiment are similar to the steps shown in FIG. 11 to FIG. 18 and described above for the fourth embodiment.

A sixth embodiment is an alternative of the fourth embodiment in which the self-aligned double patterning (SDP) method as illustrated in FIGS. 10 a-f a self-aligned double patterning method as illustrated in FIGS. 10 a-f and described above is used to create a each of the first and second the orthogonal line patterns similar to arrive at a structure as shown in FIG. 20. The subsequent process steps are similar to the steps shown in FIG. 21 a to FIG. 23 e and described above but with a width F/2 at a spacing of F/2, for example.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment, it is anticipated that alterations and modifications thereof will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such alterations and modifications include, for example, extending the stacks and magnetic tunnel junction from free layer in various three-dimensional conformations, normal to the substrate surface or stacked planes on top, in order to maintain higher capacity. It is therefore intended that the following claims be interpreted as covering all such alterations and modification as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for fabricating thin film magnetic memory cells on a wafer comprising: depositing a stack of layers for a magnetic memory device on a substrate; depositing a lower dielectric layer over the stack of layers for a magnetic memory device; depositing a metal layer over the lower dielectric layer; depositing an upper dielectric material layer over the metal layer; patterning a first line mask of parallel lines of material; forming parallel lines in the upper dielectric material by etching through the upper dielectric material layer using the first line mask; patterning a second line mask over the parallel lines of upper dielectric material, the second line mask including parallel lines arranged orthogonally to the parallel lines of upper dielectric material and overlapping the parallel lines of upper dielectric material; forming pads of upper dielectric material by etching through the parallel lines of upper dielectric layer using the second line mask; and forming pillars of layers for the magnetic memory device on the substrate by executing a series of etching processes that successively transfer a shape of the pads of upper dielectric material into layers below the pads of upper dielectric material.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein patterning the first line mask of parallel lines of material further comprises: patterning a set of parallel lines of sacrificial material using photo lithography; depositing a layer of spacer material over the parallel lines of sacrificial material; partially etching the layer of spacer material to leave parallel lines of spacer material disposed on first and second opposite sides of the parallel lines of sacrificial material; and removing the parallel lines of sacrificial material to leave parallel lines of spacer material as the first line mask.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein patterning the second line mask of parallel lines of material further comprises: patterning a set of parallel lines of sacrificial material using photo lithography; depositing a layer of spacer material over the parallel lines of sacrificial material; partially etching the layer of spacer material to leave parallel lines of spacer material disposed on first and second opposite sides of the parallel lines of sacrificial material; and removing the parallel lines of sacrificial material to leave parallel lines of spacer material as the second line mask.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein patterning the second line mask of parallel lines of material further comprises: patterning a set of parallel lines of sacrificial material using photo lithography; depositing a layer of spacer material over the parallel lines of sacrificial material; partially etching the layer of spacer material to leave parallel lines of spacer material disposed on first and second opposite sides of the parallel lines of sacrificial material; and removing the parallel lines of sacrificial material to leave parallel lines of spacer material as the second line mask.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein forming pillars further comprises: using a first etching process to etch through the metal layer using the pads of upper dielectric material as a mask to form bilayer pads having an upper pad layer of upper dielectric material and a lower pad layer of metal; and using a second etching process to etch through the lower dielectric layer using the lower pad layer of metal as a mask.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein patterning a second line mask further comprises depositing a planarizing BARC layer over the parallel lines of upper dielectric material.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the lower dielectric layer or the upper dielectric is an oxide.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the lower dielectric layer or the upper dielectric is a nitride.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the metal layer is copper. 